Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealmidpu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealmidpu’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching growth habit; early flowering habit; numerous large dark purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEALMIDPU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealmidpu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa cultivars with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2007 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A05-2219-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number F19-916, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2009, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealmidpu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealmidpu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Early flowering habit.     -   4. Numerous large dark purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Calibrachoa are larger than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have blue purple-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘Cal Pur’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,427. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Cal Pur’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are broader than plants of ‘Cal         Pur’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have longer internodes than         plants of ‘Cal Pur’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have shorter leaves than plants         of ‘Cal Pur’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Cal Pur’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering branch of ‘Duealmidpu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany under commercial Calibrachoa production practices. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealmidpu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A05-2219-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number F19-916, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely             branching habit with about 10 to 15 lateral branches;             pinching enhances branching; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 27 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.6 mm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 30 open flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers             face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring until the autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 4.7 mm. Color: Close to 145A and 79C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded and shallowly             cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when             opening, upper surface: Close to 77A. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 83B. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 77A; venation, close to 79B. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 81B; venation, close to 77A.             Throat: Close to 13A; venation, close to 79B. Tube: Close to             150C; venation, close to 144D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.5 cm. Sepal             width: About 3.6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Six per             flower. Filament length: About 9.2 mm. Filament color: Close             to 145A. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 0.5             mm to 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length: About             7 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal.             Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144C.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealmidpu’ as illustrated and described. 